The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Fish Gem

Fish Gem

c. 250–350 CE
Overall: 3.5 x 7.5 cm (1 3/8 x 2 15/16 in.)

Description

To avoid punishment, early Christians practiced their faith in secret. Images of fish were part of a code developed to refer to Jesus Christ. To those in the know, the Greek word for fish (ICHTHYS), was an acronym for the phrase Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter which translates as Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
  • (Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, New York).
  • {{cite web|title=Fish Gem|url=false|author=|year=c. 250–350 CE|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1954.592